By Deliberating in a Democracy in the Americas

This lesson is designed to promote the teaching and learning of democratic principles and the skills of civic deliberation. Students complete a reading (available in English, Spanish, and Audio-English) and engage in a Structured Academic Controversy.

Question for deliberation: Should our democracy permit the cultivation of genetically modified foods?

Objectives

At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to:
-Define genetically modified foods.
-Explain the general process of genetic engineering.
-List at least three reasons to support and three reasons to oppose the cultivation of genetically
modified foods.
-Identify possible short-term and long-term outcomes (positive and negative) of genetically
modified foods and infer how they could affect the common good.
-Identify areas of agreement and disagreement with other students.
-Reach a decision, individually and collectively, on the deliberation issue using evidence and
sound reasoning.
-Explain the importance of deliberating this question in a democratic society.

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